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Gigaba’s mini budget expected to set agenda for public sector wage increases

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Sunday, 15 October 2017 21:05

City Press Business writes that the 2017 Treasury budget made provision for a 7% hike in government wages next year to R588.7 billion, followed by a 7.2% hike in 2019 to R631.1 billion.

On 25 October, Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba will present his first medium-term budget policy statement (MTBPS), also known as the mini-budget. Economist Neva Makgetla noted that the mini budget usually made provision for inflation. Dennis George, general secretary of Fedusa, said the labour federation expected the minister to set the agenda. The first meeting of government and public sector union negotiators will be on 20 October. The union wants discussions concluded by the end of November. The Public Servants Associations (PSA) reports that the unions tabled the following demands at the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) on 5 October 2017: A general salary increase on a sliding scale from 12%; an increase in the housing allowance; adjustment of the leave provisions; payments of danger insurance to all those who risk their lives on a daily basis; a relook at the work/pay progression in the public service; and the filling of vacancies to improve service delivery.